“DeLuca?” The host stood in the entrance to the bar with two menus. We’d barely been here five minutes. Maybe it was a sign. A sign that I should give this one more chance.
“Okay?” His fingertips skimmed from my ear to my jaw. I couldn’t fight his touch.
I nodded. “Okay.”
He assisted me off the stool this time and we followed the host to a cozy table near a small fireplace. Warm lights illuminated the room creating an incredibly romantic atmosphere. Although I’d heard of Alesandro’s, I’d never eaten here before.
I felt a little awkward when we sat down. Would we be able to get past this?
A server arrived immediately with the drinks we’d left in the bar. One look at our expressions though, and he said he’d return in a few minutes to tell us about the specials.
Hunter reached across the table and took one of my hands in his. “Can I ask you a few questions?” I felt all shaky inside. Why had he freaked out so much? Maybe he’d explain it to me.
I nodded.
“Last night. Did you intentionally not tell me you worked for Star Montgomery?” His question surprised me. And then I realized. If I’d won the Senator last night, I wouldn’t have told him who I worked for. I’d been sent to trick Senator Flint.
But I shook my head. Maybe if I just told him everything. I took a deep breath. “Working for her was just a temporary thing. I was supposed to get my masters last spring and…” How much could I tell him? “My brother got me the job or I would have quit the first week.”
Hunter watched me patiently.
“I honestly didn’t even think about it.” I wasn’t making much sense. “But if I’d won Senator Flint, Star ordered me not to tell him who I worked for. So, I guess I was there with less than honest intentions.”
“Why didn’t you get your masters?” This question.
My hands shook a little when I grabbed my diet coke and took a sip.
“My roommate,” I began in a shaky voice. He squeezed my hand, encouraging me somehow. “Bernadette. She was also my best friend.”
“Was?”
“I had a four point oh GPA.” I couldn’t tell him everything. “School was my thing. My thesis was already almost finished. My advisor raved about it. School came before everything. I mean, I loved my classes. My field. Thought I was pretty special… top of my class.” I twirled the straw in my glass. I didn’t want to be a downer tonight. We’d already gotten off to such a horrible beginning.
Hunter released my hands, leaned back and narrowed his eyes. “Spill.”
Like he knew there was so much more to the story.
I shook my head but he continued staring at me with those eyes of his. Understanding. Mesmerizing.
Very well then.
“My best friend killed herself.” On March 12th last year, Bernadette texted me. I was in the library and planned on staying till they closed. She said she needed me.
“I knew she’d been having some problems with her boyfriend but… I didn’t have time to listen to her cry about him again. So, I ignored her text.” I remembered how smug I’d been. I’d already had a few job offers for after graduation even. Real jobs. Jobs in my field. Jobs that would utilize my intellect and training. “When I got home I found her in the bathtub. She’d slit her wrists.” The water had been bright red. She’d been cold.
Hunter had leaned forward again and now gripped my hand more tightly than before.
“Don’t feel sorry for me. If I’d answered her text. If I’d come home to listen to her…” And the real kicker. “While she struggled with the decision of whether or not to end her life. My best friend. I was studying for a test on suicide and depression. How to recognize the signs. How to intervene.”
That was enough. I needed to wrap this up before I totally lost it. “I couldn’t study after that. Obviously, I’d gone into the wrong field. So, I came home. Started working for Star. And that’s pretty much how I ended up at the Worthington last night.”
I pinched my lips together. This was way more than he wanted to hear. So much for a fun date with a cute boy.
Just then our waiter showed up with several shot glasses on his tray. “The owner is buying rounds of Ouzos for everyone, on the house!” He set two of them on the table and then moved along to other customers.
Hunter picked up the short glass and held it out. “To Bernadette?” Empathy warmed his gaze.
“To Bernadette.” I almost choked on the toast. We both slammed the licorice flavored liquid in one swallow. Not as bad as I thought it would taste. It warmed my throat, my chest, my stomach. “Thank you.”
